&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;ul id="gallery" class="noscript"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_1"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51635000/jpg/_51635691_011498834-1.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643501_011498834-1.jpg" width="144" height="81" alt="Rubble in Iwaki"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;One of the largest earthquakes ever recorded has struck off the coast of north-east Japan, causing widespread destruction. Many casualties are feared.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_2"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51634000/jpg/_51634457_011498586-2.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643502_011498586-2.jpg" width="144" height="81" alt="A wall of water and sludge travelled across an area of Sendai prefecture on 11 March 2011"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The 8.9 magnuitude quake triggered a huge tsunami which has swept across the sea threatening countries all around the Pacific Ocean.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_3"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51635000/jpg/_51635015_011498619-1.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643503_011498619-1.jpg" width="144" height="81" alt="Sendai Airport "/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;In Sendai, the city largest near to the quake epicentre, the waves swept through the car park of the airport and engulfed buildings.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_4"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51637000/jpg/_51637444_2.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643504_2.jpg" width="144" height="81" alt="Light planes and vehicles sit among the debris after they were swept by a tsumani that struck Sendai Airport "/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Light planes and vehicles were strewn among the debris.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_5"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51632000/jpg/_51632432_011498019-2.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643505_011498019-2.jpg" width="144" height="81" alt="Tsunami flooding in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture, on 11 March 2011"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The worst affected areas are thought to be Miyagi, Fukushima and Iwate prefectures. In Iwaki, Fukushima, water swept through the town. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_6"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51636000/jpg/_51636177_011498990-1.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643506_011498990-1.jpg" width="144" height="81" alt="Waves of tsunami hit residences after a powerful earthquake in Natori"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Houses in Natori were caught as a wall of water up to 10m (33 feet) high in some places swept inland.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_7"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51642000/jpg/_51642134_011500766-1.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643507_011500766-1.jpg" width="144" height="81" alt="Flooding around buildings in Kesennuma, Japan 11 March 2011"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;In the Miyagi port city of Kesennuma, which has a population of 74,000, the waves smashed cars up against houses.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_8"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51635000/jpg/_51635689_011498890-1.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643508_011498890-1.jpg" width="60" height="81" alt="People evacuated to a rooftop in Kesennuma"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;People sought safety on rooftops, looking out over what remained of their homes.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_9"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51636000/jpg/_51636543_011499173-3.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643509_011499173-3.jpg" width="81" height="81" alt="Tsunami swirls near a port in Oarai"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Whirlpools could be seen off the coast of several cities, catching boats in their drag.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_10"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51642000/jpg/_51642136_011500579-1.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643510_011500579-1.jpg" width="144" height="81" alt="Houses on fire in Natori City, Japan 11 March 2011"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Damage to gas pipes and electricity lines meant many fires broke out in the aftermath of the quake, including in Natori City.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_11"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51633000/jpg/_51633951_011498488-1.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643511_011498488-1.jpg" width="60" height="81" alt="Giant fireballs rise from a burning oil refinery in Ichihara"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;In Ichihara giant fireballs rise from a burning oil refinery. Thousands of people have also been evacuated from the area around a nuclear power plant, over fears its cooling system was damaged.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_12"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51632000/jpg/_51632493_011497996-1.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643512_011497996-1.jpg" width="144" height="81" alt="Hotel employees outside a building in Tokyo on 11 March 2011"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The quake was felt in the capital Tokyo, where workers evacuated swaying buildings, trains and underground services were halted, plants closed and the international airport temporarily shut. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_13"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51633000/jpg/_51633947_011498162-1.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643513_011498162-1.jpg" width="60" height="81" alt="An office building burns in Tokyo "/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Fires broke out in several areas of the capital. Japan lies on the seismically volatile Pacific Ring of Fire, and holds regular quake drills to prepare for such earthquakes.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_14"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51637000/jpg/_51637568_011499418-1.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643514_011499418-1.jpg" width="60" height="81" alt="People along train tracks in Tokyo"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The capital was evacuated. With train services cancelled many had to make their way home via other means.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_15"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51633000/jpg/_51633044_011498378-2.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643515_011498378-2.jpg" width="60" height="81" alt="Crushed vehicles in a car park in Mito city in Ibaraki "/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;In Mito City vehicles were crushed in a car park. Geologists say the disaster was caused by a &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;megathrust&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; quake, when one tectonic plane is pushed beneath another. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_16"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51636000/jpg/_51636104_011498844-1.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643516_011498844-1.jpg" width="60" height="81" alt="Evacuated employees are pictured near toppled tanks in a brewery in Sendai"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;It is believed to have been the fifth most powerful quake to strike anywhere on Earth in more than 100 years.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_17"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643068_011499934-1.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643517_011499934-1.jpg" width="144" height="81" alt="Aerial view of Iwaki City, Japan 11 March 2011"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;At least 300 people are already confirmed to have died but many are still missing. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/ul&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;ul id="gallery" class="noscript"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_1"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51635000/jpg/_51635691_011498834-1.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643501_011498834-1.jpg" width="144" height="81" alt="Rubble in Iwaki"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;One of the largest earthquakes ever recorded has struck off the coast of north-east Japan, causing widespread destruction. Many casualties are feared.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_2"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51634000/jpg/_51634457_011498586-2.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643502_011498586-2.jpg" width="144" height="81" alt="A wall of water and sludge travelled across an area of Sendai prefecture on 11 March 2011"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The 8.9 magnuitude quake triggered a huge tsunami which has swept across the sea threatening countries all around the Pacific Ocean.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_3"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51635000/jpg/_51635015_011498619-1.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643503_011498619-1.jpg" width="144" height="81" alt="Sendai Airport "/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;In Sendai, the city largest near to the quake epicentre, the waves swept through the car park of the airport and engulfed buildings.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_4"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51637000/jpg/_51637444_2.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643504_2.jpg" width="144" height="81" alt="Light planes and vehicles sit among the debris after they were swept by a tsumani that struck Sendai Airport "/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Light planes and vehicles were strewn among the debris.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_5"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51632000/jpg/_51632432_011498019-2.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643505_011498019-2.jpg" width="144" height="81" alt="Tsunami flooding in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture, on 11 March 2011"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The worst affected areas are thought to be Miyagi, Fukushima and Iwate prefectures. In Iwaki, Fukushima, water swept through the town. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_6"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51636000/jpg/_51636177_011498990-1.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643506_011498990-1.jpg" width="144" height="81" alt="Waves of tsunami hit residences after a powerful earthquake in Natori"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Houses in Natori were caught as a wall of water up to 10m (33 feet) high in some places swept inland.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_7"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51642000/jpg/_51642134_011500766-1.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643507_011500766-1.jpg" width="144" height="81" alt="Flooding around buildings in Kesennuma, Japan 11 March 2011"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;In the Miyagi port city of Kesennuma, which has a population of 74,000, the waves smashed cars up against houses.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_8"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51635000/jpg/_51635689_011498890-1.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643508_011498890-1.jpg" width="60" height="81" alt="People evacuated to a rooftop in Kesennuma"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;People sought safety on rooftops, looking out over what remained of their homes.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_9"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51636000/jpg/_51636543_011499173-3.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643509_011499173-3.jpg" width="81" height="81" alt="Tsunami swirls near a port in Oarai"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Whirlpools could be seen off the coast of several cities, catching boats in their drag.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_10"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51642000/jpg/_51642136_011500579-1.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643510_011500579-1.jpg" width="144" height="81" alt="Houses on fire in Natori City, Japan 11 March 2011"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Damage to gas pipes and electricity lines meant many fires broke out in the aftermath of the quake, including in Natori City.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_11"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51633000/jpg/_51633951_011498488-1.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643511_011498488-1.jpg" width="60" height="81" alt="Giant fireballs rise from a burning oil refinery in Ichihara"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;In Ichihara giant fireballs rise from a burning oil refinery. Thousands of people have also been evacuated from the area around a nuclear power plant, over fears its cooling system was damaged.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_12"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51632000/jpg/_51632493_011497996-1.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643512_011497996-1.jpg" width="144" height="81" alt="Hotel employees outside a building in Tokyo on 11 March 2011"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The quake was felt in the capital Tokyo, where workers evacuated swaying buildings, trains and underground services were halted, plants closed and the international airport temporarily shut. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_13"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51633000/jpg/_51633947_011498162-1.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643513_011498162-1.jpg" width="60" height="81" alt="An office building burns in Tokyo "/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Fires broke out in several areas of the capital. Japan lies on the seismically volatile Pacific Ring of Fire, and holds regular quake drills to prepare for such earthquakes.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_14"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51637000/jpg/_51637568_011499418-1.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643514_011499418-1.jpg" width="60" height="81" alt="People along train tracks in Tokyo"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The capital was evacuated. With train services cancelled many had to make their way home via other means.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_15"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51633000/jpg/_51633044_011498378-2.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643515_011498378-2.jpg" width="60" height="81" alt="Crushed vehicles in a car park in Mito city in Ibaraki "/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;In Mito City vehicles were crushed in a car park. Geologists say the disaster was caused by a &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;megathrust&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; quake, when one tectonic plane is pushed beneath another. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_16"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51636000/jpg/_51636104_011498844-1.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643516_011498844-1.jpg" width="60" height="81" alt="Evacuated employees are pictured near toppled tanks in a brewery in Sendai"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;It is believed to have been the fifth most powerful quake to strike anywhere on Earth in more than 100 years.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;li id="picGalleryNoScript_17"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643068_011499934-1.jpg" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51643000/jpg/_51643517_011499934-1.jpg" width="144" height="81" alt="Aerial view of Iwaki City, Japan 11 March 2011"/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="picGalCaption"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;At least 300 people are already confirmed to have died but many are still missing. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/li&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/ul&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;